Exerciser



July 3, 1962 w. B. YATES 3,

EXERCISER Filed May 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

FIE- L- INVENTORI WALLAUE B. Kwzs.

uh. cm

ATTY.

July 3, 1962 w. B. YATES 3,042,023

EXERCISER Filed May 23, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a; "Ea-Er INVENTOR: II/IKLLAUE B. YATES- Lu/QQCU .AT T Y.

States atent 3,042,923 EXERCISER Wallace ii. Yates, 351 S. BlanchardSt., Findlay, Ohio Filed May 23, 196i), Ser. No. 30,851 Claims. (Cl.128-25) The present invention relates to a therapeutic exerciser for usein the manipulative treatment of joints of the human body and anexerciser particularly adapted for improving the flexing andstraightening movements of the forearm.

Joints are frequently affected by illness or accident in a mannercausing stiffness and lack of mobility, Such a condition is especiallysevere and difiicult to overcome when resulting from a multiple fractureof the bones in the region of a joint. While such an injury may beincurred at the knee or some other location, a fracture of the elbow isa more frequent form.

Children suffer such injuries through falling with their elbowsextended, While adults, in addition to severe fractures from falls,frequently have the bones joined at the elbow shattered when a passingcar strikes their elbow projecting from a car window.

The repair of such breaks is tedious and consists of thoroughdebridement, suture of nerves and tendons, and restoration of bone andjoint alignment. The latter frequently requires internal fixation withwires, screws or plates.

It is nearly always necessary to place the elbow in a position offlexion to maintain the bones in the position of reduction with theamount of fiexion determined by the ability of the circulation tofunction thereunder. This flexed position must be held until the bonehealing is completed. The period of healing may be only two or threeweeks for children with comparatively minor fractures or may extend toeight weeks or more for adults or for children with complicatedfractures.

Contraction and atrophy of the muscles results from this prolongedperiod of immobility. There is also shortening and adhesion of thetendons and ligaments attending the primary repair of the injury whichis aggravated by the inaction during the healing period. Because ofthese factors, return of complete motion of the joint may requireconsiderable time and extensive therapy including hot pads, massage,baths, application of ointments and resistive and assistive exercises.Should such treatment not be properly and consistently administered, incomplete functioning of the elbow or other joint may extend over manymonths or full restoration of movement may never be attained.

While hospitals and clinics may have facilities and trained personnelcapable of providing the necessary therapy, the time and expenseinvolved in utilizing such services puts them beyond the reach of mostpatients. In any case, exercise by the patient is most important in thefinal cure, however helpful may be massages and other forms of caregiven by others.

The frequency and continuation of the needed exercise makes repeatedtrips and long stays at a clinic or hospital having exercise equipmentimpractical. Also, the supply of the exercise devices at suchestablishments is not only limited but the design of the exercisingunits have been inadequate in the form andscope of exercise provided.They have been particularly deficient in efficiency and convenience foruse in exercising and developing arm muscles and tendons.

There is, then, a need for an improved device providing a broader rangeof exercise and one that is adaptable for home use.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide aninexpensive, compact exerciser particularly adapted for home use withoutextensive or continued instruction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an exerciser bywhich joint muscles may be exercised through the full range of the jointmovement.

Another important object is to provide an exerciser especially suitedfor giving assistive exercises to stretch muscles and tendons associatedwith the elbow.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an exerciserin which resistive and assistive forces may be varied as the developmentof the muscles progresses.

A more specific object is to provide an exerciser which is equallyconvenient for utilization with either the left or right arm and whichis adjustable for fitting arms of different sizes and lengths.

These and other objects are attained in part through a compact, portableexercising device mounted on a platform with means for holding the upperarm stationary and with a weight carrying lever for movement with theforearm.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an exerciser embodying a preferred form ofthis invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the exerciser of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a like view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the side of the exerciser opposite tothat of FIGURE 2 and arranged for extreme elbow bending exercise;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary view of the angle indicating dial and thestop lugs in a position associated with elbow-straightening exercise;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the pad assembly by which sulpplementallifting pressure is applied directly under the el ow;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the pad assembly of FIGURE 6 taken onthe line 7-7 thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the holder and rest for the upper arm;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the holder of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing the pivoting portion and weightholder for the pad applying pressure; under the elbow; and

FIGURE 11 shows the notch and screw head combine-- tion by which theupper arm rest is detachably secured to the platform of the exerciser.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the exerciser is mounted on apressed steel or aluminum platform 15 having four rubber feet 16. A post18; of inverted U shape is positioned near the center of the platform toact as a support for the pivotable weight carrying bar 20. The axle 22,projecting laterally from the inner end of the bar 20, is journalled ina selected pair of a vertical series of aligned holes 24in the post 18.The end of the axle 22 fastened to the bar 20 is flattened exteriorly at28. The other end 30 of the axle is threaded for receipt of the wing nut32.

Removably secured to the platform 15 is an upper arm holder 34. The base36 of the holder has two projecting machine screw heads 37. These retainthe holder in position by fitting into a pair of key hole slots 38 inthe platform as indicated in FIGURE 11. The upper arm holder 34 includesa foamed rubber cushion 41 mounted on the base 36, and there is a feltcovering 42 overlying the cushion, as shown in FIGURE 9.

The top of the holder is transversely curved to comfortably receive thearm of a patient. For extremes of arm sizes cushions or complete holdersof different shapes may be provided.

A broad strap 43 of leather or fabric is placed over the arm andfastened by turnbuckle 45 extending through a slot 46 in the strap. Anumber of slots permits one to be selected best adapted to the girth ofthe arm. The upper arm is thus held firmly in position but preferablywithout any squeezing effect. The upper arm should be positioned toplace the elbow alongside and just below the level of the axle 22.

A forearm engaging saddle 47 is arranged to rest upon the outer endportion of the forearm. The saddle includes a tubular portion 49pivotably supporting the saddle upon a pin 51 which projects laterallyfrom a bracket 53. The pin is held in threaded engagement with thebracket by a lock nut 54. The bracket is slidably mounted on the bar 2t)and is held in a selected position thereon by the thumbscrew 56.

From the end of the bar 20 and on the side opposite to that on which thesaddle 47 is carried, extends a rod 53 for receiving one or more weightdiscs 59 to apply an assistive load for extension movement of the elbowand a resisting load for fiexion of the elbow in the region between aright angle and a full extended position of the forearm.

For exercising the muscles of the hand and wrist and also simply toposition the hand, a gripping bar 60 is pivotably suspended by straps 61and 62 from a reduced extension 63 of the rod 58 projecting out theopposite side of the bar 20. Graspable by the fingers is a pin 65slidable in slots of the straps 61 and 62. Movement of the pin byclosing of the fingers is resisted by the leaf spring 66 is shown inFIGURE 4.

This activity of the fingers is of considerable value in maintaining andimproving circulation through the arm.

When a cast is finally removed from an arm fractured at the elbow, itmay not be possible at first for the patient to extend his forearm. muchbeyond an angle of ninety degrees. With the continued use of anexerciser of this invention aided by massage, hot pads and ointments,the extension of the forearm may be slowly increased until it reaches asubstantially straight position.

At the final stage of this restoration of movement, the assistive actionof the weighted bar 20 appears to lose some effectiveness. It has beenfound that the application of an upward force to the underside of theelbow in conjunction with the functioning of the weighted barfacilitates completion of the full arm straightening move ment.

A feature of this invention involves the provision of such a means,which, in the disclosed embodiment, comprises the elbow contacting pad68 mounted with an intermediate cushioning layer 69 on a metal backingplate 70, as shown in FIGURE 7. Integral with the backing is a tubularjournal 71 by which the pad assembly is pivotably carried on pin 73. Thelatter projects laterally from the lever arm 7 4 which is fixed forswinging action to the axle 76. A holder 77 supports the axle 76. Theholder 77 is removably positioned under the tongue 73 of the bracket 79,which in turn is bolted to the platform 15. Extending from the other endof the axle 76 is a weight carrying bar 81 which has a lateral arm 82for receiving selected disc weights 83.

As arranged in FIGURES 1 and 2, the exerciser is adapted for use by theright arm of the patient. Should the left arm he the one requiringtreatment the holder 34 for the upper arm is disengaged from the two keyhole slots 38 at the right end of the platform, as viewed in FIGURE 1,and is turned around and attached to the platform by the pair of slots38 at the other end of the platform. The weight carrying bar is thenswung over to the right side, and for the terminating treatment of theelbow lifting pad 68, the holder 77 from which it turns is insertedunder the tongue 78 of the bracket 73 on the left end of the platform.

A record of the improvement in extension of the arm may be made byreference to the dial 85 which is adjustably positioned by thetightening of the wing nut 3:: upon a threaded stud extending from thepost 13 through the arcuate slot 33 in the circular dial 855. A pointer99 turns with the arm 20 and its position in relation to the indicia onthe dial enables the angle of arm extension to be determined.

To prevent undue strain on the forearm the movement of the weightcarrying bar 20 is limited by abutment of the pointer with the stop lugs92 and 93.

To improve backward bending or fiexion of the forearm the weight bar 21may be swung past center as indicated in FIGURE 5. The saddle 47 thenpivots around to engage the back or normally lower side of the forearm.For this type of exercise the dial 555 with the attached stops 92 and 93would be positioned as shown. For the final straightening of the forearmthe dial 85 would be set as illustrated in FIGURE 5A.

In reviewing the features of the invention, the adaptability of theexerciser to arms of different sizes and lengths and to a wide range ofexercises should be emphasized.

The upper arm strap 43 is provided with a plurality of fastening slotsof which one may be selected for receipt of the turnbuckle 45 toaccommodate the girth of the particular arm to be exercised. At the sametime the holder 34 for the upper arm is removable and may therefor bereplaced with a holder of a different shape.

The series of holes 24 in the post 118 permits the axle 2.2 to be placedat whatever level is most suitable for the arm size. Also, the bracket53 from which the forearm engaging saddle 47 is suspended may be shiftedalong the weight carrying bar 29 to the point most appropriate for theforearm of each patient. The pivotal suspension of the hand gripping bar60 enables it to be swung one way or the other for easy grasping. Thealternate positions on the platform for the forearm holder 34 and theelbow lifter 68 make the unit quickly adaptable to either the right orleft arm.

The adjustable safety stops 92 and 93 prevent painful and possibledamaging overextension of arm movement while providing a means throughthe associated dial and pointer for measuring and recording improvementin extension or flexion.

One of the main features of the invention is in having means forstrapping down the upper arm. Through this arrangement the shouldermuscles are prevented from participating and thus interfering in theexercising movement. The curative motion is accordingly concentrated inthe area needing repair, and the resulting isolation of the exercisingactivity allows the muscles of the rest of the body to relax. Thepatient may accordingly lie comfortably on the floor or sit at ease in achair while utilizing the exerciser. With no strain on the body abovethe arm fatigue from the exercise is minimized.

The elbow lifter, as an aid in the final straightening treatment, isalso a valuable and unique feature of the invention. Its non-rigid,resilient pressure supports the elbow as well as applying astraightening force thereto. The lifter may be moved rapidly up-and-downby hand to increase the working action on the elbow.

in final summary, it should be noted that an exerciser has been providedin which the amount of resistance or assistance given the bending orstraightening motion and the degree of motion may be controlled within awide range. Further, the exerciser of the invention is compact, easilyportable and simple to operate. The exerciser may be manufactured at acost low enough for the doctor or therapist under whose instructions itis used to loan a unit for a nominal charge.

While described herein in connection with elbow therapy, the inventionis adaptable in principle and with slight structural change to otherjoints of the arm and leg.

Such alterations, as well as other modifications, may be made in thedisclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic exerciser for the muscles effecting movement at a jointbetween an upper, movable body member and a lower, movable body member,said exerciser including a small, easily portable platform adapted forplacement on the floor or on any flat surface, means for holding theupper body member in a stationary, comparatively raised position on theplatform, an area on the platform for receiving the joint at a lowerlevel than the 15 stationary position for the upper body member, apressure receiving bar pivotably mounted to swing on an axis adjacentsaid area and with said axis parallel to the axis of the main movementof the joint received in said area, and means on the bar for engagingthe lower body member, all moving parts of said exerciser beingrestricted in location and movement to space above the platform.

2. A therapeutic exerciser according to claim 1 having freely movablemeans directly supporting the joint.

3. A therapeutic exerciser according to claim 1 having means forapplying upwardly directed force against the underside of the elbow,said means being independent of the weight means applying force againstthe forearm.

4. A therapeutic exerciser according to claim 1 having means foradjusting the vertical position of the axis on which the bar swings.

5. A therapeutic exerciser according to claim 2 in which the freelymovable means is pivotably mounted.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,832,334 Whitelaw Apr. 29, 1958 2,855,199 Noland et al. Oct. 7, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS 11,782 Austria May 11, 1903 111,562 Great Britain Dec.6, 1917

